July–August 1914Reputable sourceWell documented
The July Crisis and the Outbreak of War
On the timeline · around July–August 1914 ·
What happened
Backed by Germany, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July. Europe's alliance system pulled in the great powers within days: Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August and on France on 3 August.
Why it matters
A regional Balkan quarrel became a continental war in barely a week, showing how the rival alliance blocs turned a single crisis into a general conflict.
Sources
- Imperial War Museums. The outbreak of the First World War · Reputable source